About

Introducing: Smartlet

Smartlet is an iPhone case for your wrist. Instead of neurotically holding your phone waiting for a message or burying your phone in a pocket or purse, Smartlet keeps your hands free while keeping your iPhone in a super convenient location (your wrist). Unlike typical phone armbands that joggers use on their upper arms for running, Smartlet is: 1) minimalist by design, so that your iPhone's full screen is available to view notifications (like a smartwatch); 2) designed to be worn with everyday shirts by holding your iPhone by its buttons and allowing the lower half of the device to fit over a shirt cuff; and 3) locks your iPhone securely in place through a patent-pending unidirectional button locking mechanism, so that you can easily slide your iPhone in and out when you need it. In short, Smartlet frees up your hands so your phone doesn't interfere with your everyday life.

1. Minimalist design

Smartlet was designed to hold your iPhone securely, without covering it up. Smartlet holds your iPhone by its buttons so that the entire screen of your iPhone is open and free and the beauty of your iPhone's body can remain on display.

2. Wearability

Smartlet was also designed so that you can wear it and your iPhone with normal shirts. By holding the iPhone by its buttons, the lower half of the iPhone extends over a shirt or jacket cuff, allowing you to wear Smartlet over a shirt, under a jacket sleeve or over a jacket.

Smartlet shown in Red/Back and White/White

We designed Smartlet in multiple colors--black/black (not shown), white/white, and black/red--so you can choose that look that works for you and your iPhone.

3. Accessibility

Simply slide out your iPhone to use it

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Smartlet's patent-pending, unidirectional button locking mechanism prevents your iPhone from falling out during everyday activities, while also allowing you to slide out your iPhone in one simple motion to use it. So if you need the full functionality of your phone (e.g.,to type out an email, answer a call, or take a quick photo), it's never more than a swipe away.

When you slide your iPhone into Smartlet, it is locked into place using your iPhone's buttons so that you can't push it any further in that direction. However, Smartlet is structured so that you can still easily slide out your iPhone when you want to use it.

Why is Smartlet better than a smartwatch?

Smartlet gives you all of the functionality and convenience lacking in the smartwatches on the market today. These smartwatches have a critical design flaw: they must be linked to your phone to perform their most important functions, and you still have to take out your phone to do anything substantial. Smartlet is not just another piece of technology--it lets you use your existing technology in a stylish and easy way.

Smartlet lets you glance at notifications, like a smartwatch

How Smartlet fits in with your everyday life

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Smartlet can be used in a variety of contexts. It is simple and unobtrusive, melding seamlessly with your everyday life.

Smartlet fits into your everyday routine

In our testing, Smartlet has been especially useful in situations where our hands have been full or busy, such as getting turn-by-turn directions while cycling, glancing at notifications while holding a baby, or traveling on public transportation.

Never miss a turn

Quickly glance at your phone so you can get back to the more important things in life

Smartlet takes a ride on the subway

The backstory: Smartlet's journey

Ever since the iPhone was introduced in 2007, it has been our go-to device--always in our hands and on our minds. But, while over time the iPhone has evolved to become lighter and faster, nothing was being done to make it more integrated, useful, or wearable. The future wasn't coming fast enough, so we sought to create it.

We first experimented with attaching off-the-shelf iPhone cases to watchbands and strapping the contraption to our wrists, but we found it extremely cumbersome to remove the phone from the case when we needed to use it. That's when we realized we would have to create something entirely different, and the idea for Smartlet was born.

The 3-D printing revolution allowed us to turn the idea of Smartlet into reality. We designed, prototyped, and field tested different versions of Smartlet until we arrived at something functional and stylish.

The design was driven by three core goals: convenience, style, and security. We wanted to make Smartlet removable and accessible, not cumbersome and complicated, so we developed Smartlet's patent-pending undirectional locking mechanism. We also wanted to ensure Smartlet could be worn in everyday settings without appearing awkward or unfashionable, so we designed Smartlet to be as minimalist as possible without sacrificing security.

Which brings us to the most important goal: security. We know you love your iPhone as much as we do, so we worked hard to make sure it's secure while wearing Smartlet. We experimented with different band widths until we arrived at the perfect balance of stability and versatility, and structured Smartlet so that it grips your iPhone with enough strength to prevent it from sliding out in any direction, while still making it easy to remove your iPhone when you need it. We have been improving Smartlet's design over the past year and a half as we subjected various prototypes to daily wear and tear and tested them in a variety of environments.

We've come this far on our own, but now we need your help to share Smartlet with the world. Join us on this journey!

Risks and challenges

Any venture is bound to encounter risks and challenges. To date, our Smartlet prototypes have been produced using a 3-D printer, which is not efficient to scale the production of Smartlet. With successful funding, we will be able to move from prototype to production. Specifically, we will be able to: (1) buy an injection mold and arrange for mass production of the Smartlet itself; and (2) source a high-quality band. In order to minimize risk we would like to do both of these locally, so that we can keep a watchful eye over the process and ensure there aren't any hiccups in getting to production.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

Meet the Smartlet Team and have dinner on us in New York City! Get a live demo of Smartlet before we go to production. Plus, get the prior rewards (a first-production-run Smartlet plus one additional band). Note: travel expenses not included.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

Want to share your design ideas with the Smartlet Team? We can't wait to hear from you! Collaborate with the inventor of Smartlet to help design a unique Smartlet just for you. Plus, have dinner with the Smartlet team and get a live demo of Smartlet before we go to production. The future is yours to create! Note: travel expenses not included.